Fear, confusion as meat crisis looms
Ghaziabad administration promises licences under updated norms, which require freezer, proper disposal of waste material and tinted glasses — all likely to push up cost
GHAZIABAD: With the district magistrate promising that licences as per updated operational guidelines will soon be issued to the meat shop owners, the meat prices are likely to see a spike.
The Ghaziabad district magistrate assured abattoirs that licences will be issued through a single-window facility at the municipal corporation and Nagar Palikas in the district.
There has been a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses and meat shops since the new government under chief minister Yogi Adityanath took over in Uttar Pradesh.
In the crackdown, 152 slaughterhouses and meat shops were shut down. The district has no legal slaughterhouse for meeting local requirements.
“In this connection, we held a meeting with export units and asked them to provide the facility to meet local consumption. They have largely agreed to this. But they will not provide their livestock to meet the local requirement which is costly and meant for exports. In such a case, the local shopkeepers and businessmen will have to make arrangements for the transport of meat, which should have deep-freezer facility,” said Nidhi Kesarwani, district magistrate, Ghaziabad.
“The shopkeepers will have to follow the updated guidelines. For example, they have to set up freezer facilities, proper disposal of garbage and even tinted glasses at shops. For local sales, the shopkeepers will procure meat from units and bring it to their shops for retail sales. Roadside and open slaughtering will not be permitted at any cost,” she added.
The updated guidelines and transportation are likely to increase the cost of procuring meat for retailers and in turn will affect the consumers.
“One’s health is of prime importance. Even if updated guidelines come at a cost and an increase in prices, the system is welcome. However, this will also affect the small meat shop owners, who may not have funds to follow the guidelines. Even the lower strata of society will feel the impact if there is a rise in prices,” said Sudeepta Pal, resident of Windor Park, Indirapuram.
However, residents feel that quality meat procured from clean slaughterhouses would ensure that customer will get access to safe food.
“Currently, one would be surprised to know how meat processing was done in the open amid utterly unhygienic conditions. The shopkeepers hardly paid any attention to filthy surroundings and the type of livestock they procured for selling. There has to be a change now. The government is just enforcing previous guidelines and it is for better,” said Mohsin Alvi, a resident of Islam Nagar.
Many shopkeepers procure chicken from the Ghazipur Market. The abattoir operated by Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation had shut operations around four years back as residential localities sprung up nearby.
“We don’t support of roadside illegal shops. It is hardly known what quality of product they procure and what they sell to the customer. We are willing to put in place the updated guidelines and get the renewal of our licences which have not been renewed for the past couple of years. It may increase the cost of meat but customers will be assured of getting the right supplies and we will not be harassed frequently,” said Yaad Ilahi Qureshi, a shop owner at Raj Nagar.
The shopkeepers will have to follow the updated guidelines. For example, they have to set up freezer facilities, proper disposal of garbage and even tinted glasses at shops. NIDHI KESARWANI, district magistrate, Ghaziabad The shopkeepers hardly paid any attention to surroundings and the type of livestock they got... The government is just enforcing previous guidelines and it is for the better MOHSIN ALVI, resident, Islam Nagar